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Memphis Tigers v. Dominican Republic National Team: 3 quick takeaways
Tigers basketball is back! Sort of.
By Francis Carlota - August 2, 2023, 9:33 pm - 0 comments
Exhibition games are exactly that, exhibitions. But this matchup against the Dominican Republic National Team meant a little bit more. For starters, this was the first glimpse for many at the new-look Memphis Tigers. Though the star-studded transfer class wasn’t out in full force, there was genuine excitement to see them take the floor.
On the other side, Tigers fans got a chance to see a familiar face, Lester Quinones. The current Golden State Warrior came off an impressive rookie season and is looking to take a leap this year. A packed crowd in Santo Domingo also fed into the excitement prior to tip-off.
Memphis started five new faces: Jahvon Quinerly, Caleb Mills, Jaykwon Walton, Nick Jourdain, and Jordan Brown. Though Memphis lost 91-84, there are many positive takeaways.
- Jahvon Quinerly and Caleb Mills complemented each other well.
The effects of a torn ACL in March 2022 lingered last season for Jahvon Quinerly. Now, a year and a half removed from the injury, JQ is looking like his true self. He ran the offense with composure and confidence. Coming off of ball screens, he kept his head up, maintained a tight handle, and had the burst to get downhill. Many times he either finished at the rim, found center Jordan Brown for an easy lay up, or hit someone open for three. This offense looks in good hands.
Most Memphis fans should be familiar with Caleb Mills from his time at Houston. For those who don’t remember, this exhibition served as a solid reminder of his offensive game. Caleb used his length, good handles, and quickness to create space and finish. While he can certainly improve his on-ball defense, he has the tools to make real impacts.
JQ finished with 13 points and 7 assists. Mills had 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. If you need more proof of the Quinerly and Mills connection, here it is.
2. Carl Cherenfant might be the most impactful freshman this year.
This is not a hot take. Those following the Tigers’ practices so far have sung Carl Cherenfant’s praises and for good reason. His basketball IQ and instincts were on full display against a roster full of pros. Defensively, he moved his feet very well using his length and athleticism to bother players. Offensively, he made good reads and played with aggression. Though this roster is full of veteran talent, don’t be surprised if Carl plays important minutes down the stretch. Sky’s the limit.
3. David Jones was the Dominican Republic’s second-best player.
You read that right. Memphis commit David Jones played for the opposition tonight. Thankfully for the Tigers, he hopes to be in Memphis in a couple of weeks, according to the Commercial Appeal’s Jason Munz. With Memphis down five with under 2 minutes to play, David Jones cut the passing lane and raced down the floor for the game-sealing dunk. His defensive intensity and offensive upside were on full display hitting threes and attacking the rim. The quicker he can practice with the Tigers and build that chemistry, the better.
There are many more things I could talk about from this game. While Jordan Brown looked a little fatigued, he showed great feel around the basket. Jayden Hardaway impressed many. JJ Taylor made solid plays on defense and looked good in transition. Nick Jourdain also showed upside as a floor spacer hitting clutch threes to bring the Tigers back into the game late in the 4th.
But at the end of the day, this was still an exhibition. There’s a lot of basketball left. Even then, that was about as fun as an exhibition gets.
Get excited Memphis.
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